Combined whiffletree and trace-fastener.



P. M. LOSSING.

COMBINED WHIFPLETREE AND TRACE PASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.14, 1912.

Patented July 8, 1913.

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PHILO IVL LOSSING, OF KALKASKA, MICHIGAN.

COMBINED WHIFFLETREE AND TRACE-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 14, 1912.

Patented July 8, 1913.

Serial No. 731,372.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILO M. Lossmc, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kalkaska, in the county of Kalkaska and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Combined \Vhittletrees and 'lrace-Fasteners; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in combined whiilietrees and trace fasteners.

One object of the invention is to provide a hollow metal whillletree having in connection therewith a trace fastening mechanism whereby the end of a trace may be securely fastened in engagement with the end of the whillletree.

Another object is to improve and simplify the construction of the trace fastener shown in U. S. Patent No. 832,070 granted October 2, 1906, whereby the same is rendered more efficient and less expensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan View of one end of my improved whil'l'letree showing the trace fastening mechanism applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a front edge View of the same; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a cross sectional view taken on the line 1-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

.l'teierring more particularly to the drawings 1 denotes my improved whitiletree which is hollow and formed of steel or other suitable metal and which prefcrablv corresponds in shape to the usual form of whiflletree. The ends of the whilllctree are reduced to form trace receiving studs 2 with which the ends of any form of traces 3 are engaged.

Pivotally connected to the whililctree a short distance from the ends thereof are trace fastening devices each of which comprises a bail shaped member of strap iron, the upper and lower bars 4. of which extend inwardly above and below the upper and lower sides of the end of the whil'lletree and are pivotally connected to said upper and lower sides by a pivot bolt 5 arranged therethrough and through the whiflletree as shown. The bars are connected by rectangular trace receiving and guarding eyes 6 through which the ends of the traces are passed before the cock eyes therein are engaged with the studs 2 as clearly indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings. After the ends of the traces are engaged with the studs 2 the bails are swung around in line with the ends ol. the whitlletree and over the studs thereby preventing the disengagement of the traces from said studs as long as the bails remain in this position. In order to hold the bails in alinement with the whillletrce and prevent rattling the upper and lower bars of the bails are curved transversely to a slight extent as shown at 7 in Figs. 4. and 5 of the drawings and the curved bars are adapted to be sprung into engagement with and to closely ling the upper and lower sides of the whilllctree which are curved or rounded to correspond with the curvature of the upper and lower bars of the bail as shown.

In order to prevent the hails from being swung back too far on the ends of the whilllctree and to hold the upper and lower bars 4i. in yielding :lrictional engagement with the upper and lower sides of the whillletree, 1 provide combined spring gripping and stop loops 8 the ends of whose arms are secured in any suitable manner to the outer sides of the top and bottom bars, the centers of which when thus arranged will engage the forward sides of the whillletree when the bails are swung rearwardly to operative positions and will thus limit the rearward movement of the bails and will hold the latter in proper positions. The spring action of the loops 8 will also hold the upper and lower bars of the bails t in tight frictional engagement with the upper and lower sides of the ends of the whillletree when the trace fasteners are swung baclr and said bars sprung into engagement with said upper and lower sides of the whillletree.

The bails 4: are also provided with keepers 9 to receive the free ends of the tracers when they extend beyond the point where they are engaged with the studs 2 and which prevent said ends from swinging about and catching into other parts of the vehicle. The keepers t) are preferably in the form of substantially rectangular or oblong shaped metal loops the ends of which are secured to the outer sides of the upper and lower bars 4; near the pivoted ends thereof, said loops embracing and projecting beyond the rear side of the whiffietree as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings.

While I have herein shown and described my improved trace fastener in connection with a hollow whiffietree, it is oloVious that I may apply the fastener to the ferrule of a wooden or other form of whiffletre'e in a similar manner to the fasteners shown in the patent hereinbefore referred to.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

In a trace fastener, the combination with i a whiflletree having its upper and lower sides rounded and a reduced stud project ing from its extremity and adapted to receive the cock-eye of the trace; of a bailshaped member of strap iron having an eye at its center adapted to surround said trace when the latter engages said stud, the member also having its upper and lower bars transversely curved to conform with the curvature of the upper and lower sides of said whifiletree, a pivot connecting the inner ends of said bars and the whilfletree, a stop-loop of resilient metal having its bend lying normally against the front 01 the whiflietree and its arms secured to the outer sides of said bars and pressing them normally toward each other, and a keeper consisting of a loop having its arms secured to the outer sides of said bars nearer the pivot than said other loop and its bend standing in rear of the whifli-etree and adapted to receive the trace-end.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PHILO M. LOSSING.

lVitnesses MARK S. JorrNsoN, CLAUDE ISLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

